Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com

While boomers comprise some of the biggest online audiences, their enthusiasm for technology doesn't always include the use of personal digital assistants and other gizmos at work.  

About 75 percent of boomers think that PDAs such as BlackBerries and Palm Treos contribute to a decline in proper workplace etiquette, according to a survey of legal professionals by LexisNexis. Boomers also said they believe the use of laptops during in-person meetings is distracting - and contributing to technology overload. 

More than half of all working professionals said the amount of technology people can get their hands on today encourages too much multitasking. Respondents spend an average of 16.2 hours a day using applications such as e-mail, Internet browsers, instant messaging and Microsoft Office.

But that use follows generational boundaries: boomers spend 11.9 hours, while Generation Y logged a total of 20.5 hours. No matter the generation, the time spent far exceeds the standard eight-hour work day, reflecting the stressful conditions in bill-by-the-hour law firms.

Generational differences in the workplace are becoming more noticeable as boomers age, resulting in important corporate culture changes. Outside of technology usage, work environments are undergoing makeovers, with changes to office furniture, equipment and desk setups that meet needs of a younger workforce. Some of these changes reflect Gen X and Gen Y's preference for texting, as opposed to face-to-face meetings.

'Wake-Up Call'
Given that many boomers occupy upper management positions, they are forced to quickly adapt to these workplace shifts.

Survey results "suggest a real wake-up call for today's senior management - the boomer generation," said Mike Walsh, chief executive officer of LexisNexis US Legal Markets.

"Boomers need to acknowledge that a technology gap among generations exists, and they must find ways to maximize productivity by implementing effective workflow solutions and integrated resources that address the challenges they face," he added.

The trouble is, new technologies have blurred the lines between personal and professional tasks, especially online technologies such as blogs and social networking sites. The survey found that 55 percent of Gen Y workers and 40 percent of Gen X workers access a social networking site from work. That compares to 13 percent of boomers.

Meanwhile, 52 percent of Gen Y legal professionals think it is appropriate to befriend a colleague on a social networking site, compared to 20 percent of boomers.

Walsh said that for companies to ensure efficiency and productivity, technologies need to enhance productivity, rather than increase multi-tasking. He suggested companies establish clear guidelines around acceptable uses of technology in the workplace, as well as provide training on new technologies.